Okay so maybe it's a little late for this...but whatever. It's on my mind and it's my blog lol. I just was looking over my vision statement, my list of desires, my goals, and my confession for 2008. I honestly have to say in the midst of massive adversity 2008 was absolutely the best year of my life! I've never walked through greater challenges, but I've never achieved so many victories in areas that truly matter in life and for eternity than in 2008. If you listen to the biblical numerologists 2008 was a year of new beginnings. I generally think most of that stuff is bunk crap, but be that as it may '08 was certainly a year of new beginnings for me. New relationships and friendships that I know will last a life time, a new perspective about what is truly important in life, a new resolve to give my whole life to God and his Kingdom, a new church, a new ministry, just to name a few of the new things.
Before 2008 I loved the Lord, and I was walking fervently for him. But in 2008 I made up my mind that life was about him and him alone. That I would give up my life and my way of thinking for the life he had for me. I certainly wasn't perfect in 2008 but I made major breakthroughs in stronghold areas of my life through confession and accountability and discipline. I became a zealous student of the word. I estimate that I listened to 800+ sermons on my ipod in 2008 (many of them repeats). I read my bible through entirely and then some. I read through the gospels numerous times and proverbs 8 times (I had to take a short break at the end of the year plus there was nowhere left to highlight of make notes). I connected and created friendships with amazing spiritual leaders and mentors in my life that helped give me the courage to take a step of faith and to step out into what I felt God was leading me to do, and spoke prophetically into my life opening up my eyes to bits and pieces of what God has in store for my life if I'll not hold back and not give up. I met the greatest person of prayer that I have ever encountered and I am blessed to pray with in the same room on a consistent basis. The hands of mighty men and women of God were laid on me in prayer numerous times. After much prayer, consideration, council, and confirmation I made the step to move my life to Eugene Oregon from Seattle Washington. I left behind amazing friendships, an amazing church, relationships I wished I could have developed further, really my entire life of the past 9 years and followed the Lords leading back to Eugene OR, the town I grew up in the 1st 18 years of my life. So far God has done amazing things. God has connected me with the right people at the right place and the right time. We have launched a ministry called DVi8 for young adults and youth. We are connecting denominations and in the process of beginning to make a difference in our communities! The young adults meet every Thursday night to worship and get into the Word. It's small yet but I have faith for exceedingly and abundantly more than I can ask or think according to the power of Jesus at work inside me and all of us collectively! We have some what could seem to be daunting goals for the year of 2009, but I am confidently faithful that as we do our part God will empower us by his spirit to meet the goals I believed are birthed directly from his Spirit. The new church building will be complete this year and new doors for ministry will be made open by a larger facility! The Korean Church inside of the Church is absolutely amazing and the pastor mighty, mighty woman of God! It's already growing but it's about to blow up according to Gods order!
2009 is about to be sick! I'm so excited to see what God has in store...I have my thoughts, I have my goals, and I have my plans...but my prayer is "Father your kingdom come, and you will be done in my life and on earth as it is in Heaven". Whatever the means are to that end I'm down...lets do this. Have a great year everyone...loose your self to find yourself...it's going to be the best year yet!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Getting Higher
I am very familiar with the standard ways of "getting higher" that this world has to offer us. My past is filled with long nights that I'd like to ferget. However it's amazing how when looked at in the proper perspective the past can fuel your future. I remember a time in my past where I was constantly looking to "get higher" the worlds way. It ended me up in some rough neighborhoods, passed out behind the wheel of my car, amelessly wondering the streets at all hours of the early morning among other less than gratifying or satisfying exeriences. What I found in my pursuit of getting high the worlds way is that no matter how high I got it was never enough...Proverbs 27:20 says that just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied. So if this is true we have a choice to make...what are we going to fill our life with? Because this verse does not just mean that we won't be satisfied with a shallow level of sin. If the law of reciprocals is true it also means that once we begin to fill our hearts, minds, and spirits with good and Godly things we will desire more of that in out lives as well. So the choice is ours. Who will we be? Someone who is in constant pursuit of negative destructive things that the world offers us, and literally shoves down our throats daily or will we deviate from the patterns of this world, and be a person who runs in pursuit of good, and Godly things? Deuteronomy 30:19 - Life and death is set before us every day. What will we choose?
Which leads me back to the subject of "getting higher". The bible is full of people who had to get higher to receive what they needed from God. Abraham had climb to the top of the mountian as did Moses. Zacheus had to climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus, and the paralytic had to be carried onto the top of a roof, and then break a hole in the roof to receive what he desired from the Lord! But the cost of going higher was always worth the time it took to climb the mountain, or the uncomfortable moments of being the one running ahead and climbing the tree. Because if you can encounter God your life will never be the same...it will always be better! But sometimes that takes us taking the step of faith to "get higher". Becasue sometimes you just need an unabstructed view. What are the issues of your life that are keeping you at a low level? And how can you get higher? I know many times in my life getting higher has meant a time of getting humble, and getting honest. Aswering an alter call when it was the last thing I wanted to do, dancing before the Lord in a worship service, or crying out with a loud voice. Sometimes it means getting up at 5 am or staying up till 1 to get into the precense of God, but just as those in the Bible never regretted getting higher I never have either. And if we can just make a decision to do what it takes in our lives to see Jesus we won't regret it and we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be all God predestined us to be! Ask the Holy Spirit what you can do to get an unabstructed view. Maybe it's more time in the Bible. Maybe it's more prayer, maybe it's something I haven't mentioned...but if you'll get higher you'll see him. The bible says those who seek him will find him. Don't ever give up on your pursuit of his face! Keep getting higher...constantly advancing and growing in the Epignosis (intimate, 1st hand, relational knowledge) knowledge of Yahweh living life on another level in Him!
Produce Fruit,
Chad
Which leads me back to the subject of "getting higher". The bible is full of people who had to get higher to receive what they needed from God. Abraham had climb to the top of the mountian as did Moses. Zacheus had to climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus, and the paralytic had to be carried onto the top of a roof, and then break a hole in the roof to receive what he desired from the Lord! But the cost of going higher was always worth the time it took to climb the mountain, or the uncomfortable moments of being the one running ahead and climbing the tree. Because if you can encounter God your life will never be the same...it will always be better! But sometimes that takes us taking the step of faith to "get higher". Becasue sometimes you just need an unabstructed view. What are the issues of your life that are keeping you at a low level? And how can you get higher? I know many times in my life getting higher has meant a time of getting humble, and getting honest. Aswering an alter call when it was the last thing I wanted to do, dancing before the Lord in a worship service, or crying out with a loud voice. Sometimes it means getting up at 5 am or staying up till 1 to get into the precense of God, but just as those in the Bible never regretted getting higher I never have either. And if we can just make a decision to do what it takes in our lives to see Jesus we won't regret it and we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be all God predestined us to be! Ask the Holy Spirit what you can do to get an unabstructed view. Maybe it's more time in the Bible. Maybe it's more prayer, maybe it's something I haven't mentioned...but if you'll get higher you'll see him. The bible says those who seek him will find him. Don't ever give up on your pursuit of his face! Keep getting higher...constantly advancing and growing in the Epignosis (intimate, 1st hand, relational knowledge) knowledge of Yahweh living life on another level in Him!
Produce Fruit,
Chad
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The Box Marked Ordinary
I will not settle in...to a life inside the box marked ordinary. I have been called...I have been created for more! I will not let the pursuit of wealth, fame, popularity, acceptance, or a life with no challenges trick me into letting my focus become unclear, because I am an all out warrior for King Jesus. I march to the cadence of the heart beat of Yahweh...his will is my goal. I will not settle into a life inside the box marked ordinary...
If people think I'm strange it's a small price to pay...if I loose friends so be it. If I never gain fortune or fame or if I do gain fortune and fame, my life is and always will be marked and defined with Kingdom purpose. I'm tired so tired of ordinary...my soul yearns for more. Religion sickens me, the average church service dulls me...and what has become the normal Christian scares me. Not just for our society but for them and their eternal state as well. I will not become the normal Christian I will not conform to anyone but Christ. I will search for those and cherish those who are walking this road and will walk this road with me. I will not settle into a life inside the box marked ordinary.
I will live my life to see the Kingdom come to Earth as it is in Heaven, not to get by or make a living. For I know that a life lived for anything but the Kingdom is an embarrassment to my purpose. I will follow the vision of Jesus rather than setting my long term goals and calling that a Godly vision. I won't ever let my relationship with Yahweh be something I work into my schedule...it will always be what I live for. I won't settle for a plastic life or a plastic relationship with God. I am a seeker, and when I seek him, I find what I am looking for. I will worship God with all that is with in me, I will proclaim the fame of Jesus when I'm scared, I will give God all my guts...and when he accomplishes something through me give all the glory to him and take none for myself...I will not settle into a life inside the box marked ordinary.
I will not let extraordinary become a cliche in my life...I will not let extraordinary be about what I do for me...extraordinary is about him and is more about my daily life than feats, accomplishments, or notoriety. I'll choose powerful over famous. I'll choose holiness over size. I'll choose the glory over money. I will choose Jesus over everything. To him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than I can ask or think according to him who works in me and through me be the glory! I will not settle in to a life inside the box marked ordinary...
If people think I'm strange it's a small price to pay...if I loose friends so be it. If I never gain fortune or fame or if I do gain fortune and fame, my life is and always will be marked and defined with Kingdom purpose. I'm tired so tired of ordinary...my soul yearns for more. Religion sickens me, the average church service dulls me...and what has become the normal Christian scares me. Not just for our society but for them and their eternal state as well. I will not become the normal Christian I will not conform to anyone but Christ. I will search for those and cherish those who are walking this road and will walk this road with me. I will not settle into a life inside the box marked ordinary.
I will live my life to see the Kingdom come to Earth as it is in Heaven, not to get by or make a living. For I know that a life lived for anything but the Kingdom is an embarrassment to my purpose. I will follow the vision of Jesus rather than setting my long term goals and calling that a Godly vision. I won't ever let my relationship with Yahweh be something I work into my schedule...it will always be what I live for. I won't settle for a plastic life or a plastic relationship with God. I am a seeker, and when I seek him, I find what I am looking for. I will worship God with all that is with in me, I will proclaim the fame of Jesus when I'm scared, I will give God all my guts...and when he accomplishes something through me give all the glory to him and take none for myself...I will not settle into a life inside the box marked ordinary.
I will not let extraordinary become a cliche in my life...I will not let extraordinary be about what I do for me...extraordinary is about him and is more about my daily life than feats, accomplishments, or notoriety. I'll choose powerful over famous. I'll choose holiness over size. I'll choose the glory over money. I will choose Jesus over everything. To him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than I can ask or think according to him who works in me and through me be the glory! I will not settle in to a life inside the box marked ordinary...
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Thoughts on life's trials...
Some thoughts I had written down in the bible I was reading through last year...apparently after reading 1st Peter Chapter 5:
"We are going to go through trials while we live on an imperfect Earth. However, we must be aware that our response to trials indicates to God, ourselves, and others where we truly stand spiritually. A correct response to suffering will help us grow in our faith and anointing, and be a testimony to those in our lives. An incorrect response to suffering indicates to God we are not yet ready for the next thing he has for us. Our response to trials should be faith filled, hopeful, prayerful, steadfast, and strong. A positive Christ like response to trials and suffering will bring God glory & allow us to take the next step into the fullness of life God has for us on earth and in eternity."
Psalm 105:19 says in the New Living Translation "Until the time came to fulfill his word, the Lord tested Joseph." To think no tests or trials ever come from God or are in his will for us I don't believe is accurate, because the word of God clearly indicates otherwise. Maybe instead of constantly rebuking the devil that we have an issue, we should take a look at how God can use the issue we are going through to form a fashion us to further Kingdom purposes. The bible says "all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose" - Romans 8:28. It didn't say that everything is always good, and if it's not it's the devil attacking us. To be a vessel of honor fit for the masters use we must be pure vessels. Fire is the only place that the dross is removed from silver but in the midst of the tests and trials we must remember that we are being refined if we will submit to the process and learn from the trial instead of worry about it. "The angel of the Lord encamps around all those who fear him, And delivers them" - Psalm 34:7. Meaning...for the purposes of this discussion, when we are going though an issue or a trial...we ought not trip or freak out. The Word says "I will keep them at perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me." Psalm 34 goes on to say "Oh! Taste and see the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in him! Oh! Fear the Lord all you saints! There is no want to those who fear him! Those who seek the lord shall no lack any good thing!............God is a good God! In the midst of trial there is always still blessing if you will not waver in your trust in him.......and you will come out of the fire a little bit more refined, and further developed for the Masters use and your ultimate purpose on Earth and for Eternity's gain.
PS. A very important note on this writing: I certainly do not believe that all trials come from God! I do NOT believe that sickness or poverty ever comes from God or is ever in his will for our lives! I do not believe that the trials we produce for ourselves are ever Gods will for our lives, and I do certainly believe Satan attacks us to steer us of the course God has intended. I believe specifically if the trial tests your character along the path to your purpose it very well may be a testing from the Lord. If the trial has been meant to destroy you, it has been sent by the Devil. I still believe however according to the Word of almighty God that ALL things work together for good for those who love him! As has been demonstrated time and time again in the lives of many mighty men and women of God. Respond to your trials rightly...!
Produce Fruit,
Chad
"We are going to go through trials while we live on an imperfect Earth. However, we must be aware that our response to trials indicates to God, ourselves, and others where we truly stand spiritually. A correct response to suffering will help us grow in our faith and anointing, and be a testimony to those in our lives. An incorrect response to suffering indicates to God we are not yet ready for the next thing he has for us. Our response to trials should be faith filled, hopeful, prayerful, steadfast, and strong. A positive Christ like response to trials and suffering will bring God glory & allow us to take the next step into the fullness of life God has for us on earth and in eternity."
Psalm 105:19 says in the New Living Translation "Until the time came to fulfill his word, the Lord tested Joseph." To think no tests or trials ever come from God or are in his will for us I don't believe is accurate, because the word of God clearly indicates otherwise. Maybe instead of constantly rebuking the devil that we have an issue, we should take a look at how God can use the issue we are going through to form a fashion us to further Kingdom purposes. The bible says "all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose" - Romans 8:28. It didn't say that everything is always good, and if it's not it's the devil attacking us. To be a vessel of honor fit for the masters use we must be pure vessels. Fire is the only place that the dross is removed from silver but in the midst of the tests and trials we must remember that we are being refined if we will submit to the process and learn from the trial instead of worry about it. "The angel of the Lord encamps around all those who fear him, And delivers them" - Psalm 34:7. Meaning...for the purposes of this discussion, when we are going though an issue or a trial...we ought not trip or freak out. The Word says "I will keep them at perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me." Psalm 34 goes on to say "Oh! Taste and see the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in him! Oh! Fear the Lord all you saints! There is no want to those who fear him! Those who seek the lord shall no lack any good thing!............God is a good God! In the midst of trial there is always still blessing if you will not waver in your trust in him.......and you will come out of the fire a little bit more refined, and further developed for the Masters use and your ultimate purpose on Earth and for Eternity's gain.
PS. A very important note on this writing: I certainly do not believe that all trials come from God! I do NOT believe that sickness or poverty ever comes from God or is ever in his will for our lives! I do not believe that the trials we produce for ourselves are ever Gods will for our lives, and I do certainly believe Satan attacks us to steer us of the course God has intended. I believe specifically if the trial tests your character along the path to your purpose it very well may be a testing from the Lord. If the trial has been meant to destroy you, it has been sent by the Devil. I still believe however according to the Word of almighty God that ALL things work together for good for those who love him! As has been demonstrated time and time again in the lives of many mighty men and women of God. Respond to your trials rightly...!
Produce Fruit,
Chad
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